2011 schedule - MediaSpan

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011
FOOTBALL 2011
AMERICAN PRESS
31
IOWA
Numbers up for Yellow Jackets
.
BY JIM GAZZOLO
AMERICAN PRESS
In his second year as head
football coach at Iowa, Sean
Richard likes the direction
his program is headed.
After suffering through a
3-7 season a year ago, the
Yellow Jackets appear ready
to rebound. At least that is
the hope.
District
4-3A
With 94 players
out for the program,
Iowa has the
start of some big
numbers. Last
year Richard said he had only
about 25 players who knew
what to expect. This year
everybody is on the same
page.
“The kids seem to be getting
it,” Richard said. “They
know what we want from
them, and they are excited
about the way things are
going.”
There is a lot of optimism
surrounding the Yellow
Jackets despite some heavy
losses.
Gone is do-everything
quarterback Gene Pete, who
threw for 1,013 yards and
rushed for another 912
He combined to either run
or throw for 21 of Iowa’s 30
touchdowns.
“He was a big part of our
team last year,” Richard said.
“He was a great kid, a great
leader and will be tough to
replace, but we think we have
somebody ready.”
That somebody is junior
Austin Theriot, who played
last year both at quarterback
and wide receiver.
“Austin is a good athlete
who has shown us a lot this
past year,” Richard said.
“We like the things he can
do for us. We will be counting
on him this year.”
He will have a big target in
all-district receiver Mason
Ceasar, who hauled in 31
catches for 273 yards and a
touchdown last fall.
“Mason is a good one, and
we are developing some other
Clockwise from left, Blake Vidrine, Zack Hebert, Mason Ceasar, and Joel Smith will be counted
on by head coach Sean Richard as Iowa attempts to bounce back from a 3-7 season.
good targets for Austin,”
Richard said. “We should
have some more weapons this
year.”
That will include running
backs Gerald Marshall and
KAREN WINK / AMERICAN PRESS
Deon Galmore, both of whom
return after getting plenty of
playing time last year.
AT A GLANCE
■ HEAD COACH: Sean
Richard (3-7, second year)
■ DISTRICT: District 4-3A
■ LAST YEAR: 3-7, 2-3
(fourth in district, no playoffs)
■ OFFENSE: QB Austin
Theriot; HB Gerald Marshall;
FB Deon Galmore; WR Mason
Ceasar; WR Andrew Self; TE
Zach Hebert; LT Blake Vidrine;
LG Joel Smith; C Darrell
Nunez; RG David Kershaw; RT
Kane Fontenot
■ DEFENSE: DE Jimmy
Maple; DT Logan Autin; DT
Tremel Alfred; DE Blake
Vidrine; WLB Devon Thomas;
MLB Lane Richard; CB Andrew
Self; SS Cody Burgess; FS
Jeremy Williams; WS Garett
Dartez
■ SPECIALISTS: K
Christian Rodriguez; P Garrett
Trahan
With 12 returning lettermen,
11 of whom have some
starting experience, the
Yellow Jackets hope they
have enough to build around.
However, only one of those
starters returns on defense.
“We have some more size
than a year ago, but we did
lose a lot of good players that
will need to be replaced,”
Richard said.
“One good thing, this
group of kids have been
together for a couple of years
now, so they know each other
and work well together. Those
are some big things that can
help us.”
The Yellow Jackets are
hoping they can use the past
year to gain the experience
they needed to become a
much more competitive team.
“The program is really in
better shape now,” Richard
said.
“The kids have bought
into the system and are excited
about the upcoming season.”
While the Yellow Jackets
will be young, they are hoping
the extra numbers they
have in the program can turn
into victories on the scoreboard.